/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballwhispers.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F08%2FTymoteusz-Puchacz-of-Sabah-FK-seen-during-the-UEFA-Champions-League-qualification-match-between-AGF-and-Sabah-FK-on-August-5-2026-IMAGO-Gonzales-Photo.jpg)
Sabah and Hapoel Beer-Sheva return to action in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers when they square off in the second leg of their playoff-round clash at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Tuesday. Having secured a 2-1 victory in last week’s reverse leg, the Israeli outfit are on the cusp of a historic first-ever qualification to the UCL group stages, after falling short in the playoff round back in 2017 and 2018.
Read our Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva preview, while you can also find more of our expert predictions on today's betting tips page.
Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva key stats
- Sabah are unbeaten in 14 of their 16 home games across all competitions in 2026, picking up 12 wins and two draws since the turn of the year.
- Hapoel Beer-Sheva have lost just one of their last nine Champions League qualifying matches, while picking up six wins and one draw since 2018.
- Sabah have opened the scoring in seven of their eight games across all competitions this season, with a 2-1 loss against AGF on August 5 being the exception.
Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva: One last hurdle for both sides in bid for first-ever Champions League qualification
Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva — Tale of the Tape
| Sabah | vs | Hapoel Beer-Sheva |
|---|---|---|
| 5th (Azerbaijan Premier League) | Position | 1st (2025-26 Israeli Premier League) |
| 3 | Points | 79 |
| 2 | Goals For | 79 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 38 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 13 |
| 5th | Home / Away Rank | 2nd |
Reigning Azerbaijan Premier League champions Sabah were left spitting feathers in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying playoff last Wednesday when they let their lead slip away in a 2-1 loss against Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Serbian midfielder Veljko Simic opened the scoring in the sixth minute to hand the Azerbaijan outfit a dream start to the tie, but Jacob East and Igor Zlatanovic hit back for Hapoel Beer-Sheva to turn the game on its head.
Having cruised through the first two qualifying rounds, securing a 4-2 aggregate victory over The New Saints and beating KuPS 3-0 over two legs, Sabah’s first exit scare came in a 2-1 first-leg loss against AGF in the third round on August 8.
However, Valdas Dambrauskas’s men came roaring back in the return leg six days later, securing a 4-0 victory over the Danish side to complete a remarkable comeback thanks to second-half goals from Simic, Steve Solvet, Joy Lance Mickels and Xander Severina.
Mickels has been a star performer for Sabah this season, with the 32-year-old striker scoring four and providing one assist in the first eight for the Azerbaijan outfit.
Drawing inspiration from their third-round comeback against AGF, the reigning Azerbaijan champions will hope lightning strikes twice on Tuesday, with a place in the Champions League group stage at stake in what has been an impressive debut qualifying campaign.
On the other hand, having twice fallen at the final hurdle in Champions League qualifying, Hapoel Beer-Sheva will hope the third time’s the charm as they push to reach the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time.
The Israeli outfit suffered a 5-2 aggregate defeat against Scottish powerhouse Celtic in the 2016-17 qualifying playoff, 12 months before painfully losing to Maribor on away goals in the 2017-18 playoff.
Since 2018, Hapoel Beer-Sheva have lost just two of their nine Champions League qualifying matches, while picking up six wins and one draw.
This time around, Hapoel Beer-Sheva are 90 minutes away from a historic feat, having knocked out Vikingur and Red Star Belgrade before securing a vital first-leg win over Sabah in last Tuesday’s playoff tie.
Ran Kozuk’s men came back from a 2-1 first-leg loss against Vikingur to secure a hard-fought 3-2 aggregate victory over the Icelandic side in July, before earning a more convincing 3-0 win over Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade in 180 minutes.
While Hapoel are on the cusp of making club history, they will need to show their mettle at the Bank Respublika Arena, where Sabah have won their three UCL qualifying games, scoring seven goals and keeping three clean sheets.
Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva form guide & betting tips
| Sabah | vs | Hapoel Beer-Sheva |
|---|---|---|
WLWWL |
Form | WWWLW |
| 10 | Goals For | 7 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 5 |
WWLWL |
Champions League qualification | LWWWW |
Whispers predicts: Sabah 3-1 Hapoel Beer-Sheva
Sabah have made their home turf a fortress this season, winning each of their four matches so far, and having completed a remarkable comeback in the third qualifying round, they return to the Bank Respublika Arena on Tuesday with confidence.
At 4/5 (1.80), Sabah are backed by the bookmakers to secure the win here, and while we fancy BTTS – Yes at 18/25 (1.72), we see the Azerbaijan champions claiming a two-goal advantage to win the tie on aggregate.
We also predict a goal range of 2-4, which currently sits at 57/100 (1.57), while a 3-1 correct score at 14/1 (15.00) is our outside pick.
> Match result – Sabah to win at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Possible
> BTTS – Yes at 18/25 (1.72) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 3-1 at 14/1 (15.00) | Likelihood: Outsider